-Published in ‘Nano Letters’, a significant academic journal in Nano field, by analyzing natural and synthetic nanoparticles, expected to show groundbreaking improvement for early diagnosis of significant disease-

Sogang University Department of Mechanical Engineering Lee Jung-chul – Kim Dong Chul joint research team developed hollow microtube resonator mass sensor based on self-assembled silicon, by using migration phenomenon of silicon surface molecules, which arise when annealing in 1,150 degrees Celsius. This achievement has been announced in ‘Nano Letters’, a significant academic journal in Nano field on January 27, 2016.

The research team have investigated fundamentals which are inside the silicon wafer that can materialize the cavity by running parallel with the experiments of silicon surface molecule migration phenomenon and calculation of numerical value. By using this manufactured joints and through oxidation of surface inside, materialized the oxide shell within the scale of tens or even hundreds of nanometers to the desired thickness, and then developed hollow microtube resonator mass sensor by using the method to remove surrounding silicones. Hollow microtube resonator mass sensor that was developed made it possible to measure from single level to high speed of nanoscaled body structures such as various nanoparticles and viruses/exosome that exist in liquid.

Professor Lee Jung-chul said, “From the result of this research, by using label-free method, measured microscopic particles that circulate in the patient’s vain with specific disease so it is expected to make great deal of groundbreaking contribution towards early diagnosis of various important disease” and added that “this suggested the method which can possibly be utilized infinitely for energy, environment, field of optics beyond precise physics-based sensor areas.”

On the other hand, this research has been proceeded with the support from supporting project for leading researchers of National Research Foundation of Korea.

- Production and drive mimic diagram of hollow microchannel resonator with hundreds of zeptogram’s degree of precision, which was developed to measure individual mass of natural and composite nanoparticles.

2. Explanation of terms :

(1) Resonator: Signifies structures taking out or amplifying specific frequency among complex vibration by using resonance.

(2) Zeptogram: 1 zg(zeptogram) equals to 10-21g(gram), general mass of protein is 50zg.